Between War & Peace

"Run! Run! And if you know what's good for you, you will not choose him." She demanded. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I gathered the clothes from the floor. "Who's him?" I questioned as I tried to focus. She turned around and her eyes widened with fear. "Leave those things! They will slow you down. Quickly! Take the bag from behind the door, it has enough money and supplies to help you survive for a while. Now stop being a stupid child and RUN!" she shouted pushing me towards the back door. Tripping over the clothes, I hurried to the bag to grab it. Once safely on my back with the straps tightened, I opened the door but I paused a few feet away and turned to thank her. As soon as I tried, I was blown into one of the trees within the forest, my ears screeching and my eyes blurry from the smoke. As I tried to gather myself I heard the voices get louder in the background. "You better find her! Otherwise, I will skin all of your children and wives in front of your eyes!" a man's voice demanded. It caused fear and determination to curse through the air so much that I could taste it. I coughed out blood and no mattered how much I wanted to go back to find her. All I could remember was her fearful eyes and her scared voice saying: RUN! That was enough motivation for me to push into a full-blown sprint deeper into the dark forest.